The present invention enables image information of high resolution to be transferred via a transmission line with limited band width using a simple configuration. In transferring image information between a main body of a computer and a display, a dither matrix is used to update images stored in the display. That is, a plurality of blocks whose size is of a predetermined dither matrix are defined in an image, and information of each pixel in each block is transferred to the display in order of a value of a corresponding element in the dither matrix. Transfer of unchanged pixel data can be omitted. In addition, in transferring image information between the main body of the computer and the display, image information stored in the computer is divided into a plurality of blocks, for each of which the number of changed pixels or the number of writings to pixels in the block is calculated so that image information in blocks which exceed a predetermined number is transferred to the display block by block.
Legal claims defining the scope of protection, as filed with the USPTO.
1. A method for transferring image information which is stored in a first apparatus and comprises a plurality of pixels to a second apparatus, said first apparatus storing a bit for each said pixel representing whether there is a writing to the pixel, said pixels divided into blocks, each said block having a size of a predetermined dither matrix, said method comprising the steps of: referring to the pixel bit stored in said first apparatus and determining, in an order specified by a pixel order value included in a corresponding element in said dither matrix, whether each pixel in each said block of said image information should be transferred to said second apparatus; and transferring information of said pixels which are determined to be transferred in said order to said second apparatus.
2. A method for transferring image information which is stored in a first apparatus and comprises a plurality of pixels to a second apparatus, said first apparatus storing a bit for each said pixel representing whether there is a change of the pixel content, said pixels divided into blocks, each said block having a size of a predetermined dither matrix, said method comprising the steps of: referring to the pixel bit stored in said first apparatus and determining, in an order specified by a pixel order value included in a corresponding element in said dither matrix, whether each pixel in each said block of said image information should be transferred to said second apparatus; and transferring information of said pixels which are determined to be transferred in said order to said second apparatus.
3. A method for transferring image information which is stored in a first apparatus and comprises a plurality of pixels, to a second apparatus, said pixels divided into blocks, each said block having a size of a predetermined dither matrix, said method comprising the steps of: determining, in an order specified by a pixel order value included in a corresponding element in said dither matrix, whether each pixel in each said block of said image information should be transferred to said second apparatus; and transferring information of said pixels which are transferred in said order to said second apparatus, said information representing whether each said pixel is transferred is represented by a run length of the pixels included in the same line among those of the same order in different blocks.
4. A method for transferring image information which is stored in a first apparatus and comprises a plurality of pixels, to a second apparatus, said pixels divided into blocks, each said block having a size of a predetermined dither matrix, said method comprising the steps of: determining, in an order specified by a pixel order value included in a corresponding element in said dither matrix, whether each pixel in each said block of said image information should be transferred to said second apparatus; transferring information of said pixels which are determined to be transferred in said order to said second apparatus; performing, in said first apparatus, a processing for moving a portion of said image information to another part in said image information; and transferring to said second apparatus a command for performing the same processing for moving.
5. The method set forth in claim 4 , further comprising a step of moving the content of bits which correspond to the moved portion of said image information, each of which represents whether a change of a pixel is made, to a position for said another portion of said image information in bits, each of which represents whether a change of a pixel is made.
6. A method for transferring image information which is stored in a first apparatus and comprises a plurality of pixels, to a second apparatus, said pixels divided into blocks, each said block having a size of a predetermined dither matrix, said method comprising the steps of: determining, in an order specified by a pixel order value included in a corresponding element in said dither matrix, whether each pixel in each said block of said image information should be transferred to said second apparatus; transferring information of said pixels which are determined to be transferred in said order to said second apparatus; and changing a bit which represents whether a change of a pixel is made and corresponds to a pixel of said image information changed by said first apparatus, to a state of changed.
7. A method for transferring image information which is stored in a first apparatus and comprises a plurality of pixels, to a second apparatus, said plurality of pixels divided into blocks, each said block having a size of a predetermined dither matrix, said method comprising the steps of: holding change information representing whether content of each pixel in said image information is changed; determining, in order of a value of a corresponding element in said dither matrix, whether each pixel in each said block of said image information should be transferred to said second apparatus, by referring to said change information; and transferring the pixels which are determined to be transferred in said order to said second apparatus.
8. The method set forth in claim 7 , further comprising the steps of: determining whether a pixel to be transferred is included in a group comprising one or a plurality of said blocks; and if it is determined that no pixel is to be transferred, skipping said step of determining whether each pixel in each said block of said image information and the subsequent steps for a predetermined pixel in said group.
9. The method set forth in claim 8 , wherein said step of determining whether a pixel to be transferred is included in a group comprises a step of referring to a bit for each said group, said bit representing whether a pixel in said group is updated by said first apparatus.
10. A method for updating, by using first image information which is stored in a first apparatus and comprises a plurality of pixels divided into blocks, each said block having a size of a predetermined dither matrix, second image information stored in a second apparatus, said method comprising the steps of: receiving information of each pixel in each said block of said first image information, except information not transferred from said first apparatus, in an order specified by a pixel order value included in a corresponding element in said dither matrix; updating information of a corresponding pixel in said second image information with information of each pixel received; and receiving a command to move a portion of said second image information to another portion in said second image information; and moving said portion of said second image information to said another portion in said second image information according to said command.
11. A method for transferring image information comprising a plurality of pixels stored in a first apparatus and divided into a plurality of blocks, to a second apparatus, said method comprising the steps of: counting the number of changed pixels for each said block; determining for each said block whether the count exceeded a predetermined threshold; and if the count of a block exceeded the predetermined threshold, transferring to said second apparatus, information of the pixels belonging to the block.
12. The method set forth in claim 11 , further comprising a step of incrementing the count, if said count is determined not to have exceeded said predetermined threshold.
13. A method for transferring image information comprising a plurality of pixels stored in a first apparatus and divided into a plurality of blocks, to a second apparatus, said method comprising the steps of: counting the number of writings to pixels for each said block; determining for each said block whether the count exceeded a predetermined threshold; and if the count of a block exceeded the predetermined threshold, transferring to said second apparatus, information of the pixels belonging to the block.
14. The method set forth in claim 13 , further comprising a step of incrementing the count, if said count is determined not to have exceeded said predetermined threshold.
15. A transferring apparatus for transferring first image information which comprises a plurality of pixels divided into blocks, to a receiving apparatus in order to update second image information stored in said receiving apparatus, each said block having a size of a dither matrix, said transferring apparatus comprising: a first storage device for storing said dither matrix; a second storage device for storing said first image information; and a transmitter for transferring information of each pixel in said each block stored in said second storage device to said receiving apparatus in order of a value of a corresponding element in said dither matrix stored in said first storage device.
16. A transferring apparatus for transferring first image information which comprises a plurality of pixels divided into blocks, to a receiving apparatus, each said block having a size of a dither matrix, said transferring apparatus comprising: a first storage device for storing said dither matrix; a second storage device for storing said image information; a controller for determining whether or not each said pixel in each said block of said image information stored in said second storage device should be transferred to said receiving apparatus in order of a value of a corresponding element in said dither matrix stored in said first storage device; and a transmitter for transferring information of pixels determined to be transferred to said receiving apparatus in said order.
17. The transferring apparatus set forth in claim 16 , further comprising a third storage device for storing a bit for each said pixel, which represents whether there is a changed pixel, wherein said controller refers to said bit of a pixel to be determined.
18. The transferring apparatus set forth in claim 16 , wherein said transmitter transfers to said receiving apparatus information representing whether or not each pixel is sent.
19. The transferring apparatus set forth in claim 18 , wherein said controller performs a process for moving a portion of said image information to another portion in said image information, and said transmitter transfers to said receiving apparatus a command for performing the same process for moving.
20. The transferring apparatus set forth in claim 16 , wherein said controller determines whether or not a pixel to be transferred is included in a group comprising one or a plurality of said blocks, and if there is no pixel to be transferred, said controller skips said process of determining whether or not each said pixel in each said block of said image information should be transferred and causes said transmitter to skip the transmission.
21. An updating apparatus for updating, by using first image information which is stored in a first apparatus and comprises a plurality of pixels divided into blocks, second image information, each said block having a size of a dither matrix, said updating apparatus comprising: a first storage device for storing said second image information; a second storage device for storing said dither matrix; a receiver for receiving information of each pixel in each said block of said first image information in order of a value of a corresponding element in said dither matrix stored in said second storage device; and a controller for updating information of a corresponding pixel in said second image information stored in said first storage device with information of each pixel received.
22. An updating apparatus for updating, by using first image information which is stored in a first apparatus and comprises a plurality of pixels divided into blocks, second image information, each said block having a size of a dither matrix, said updating apparatus comprising: a first storage device for storing said second image information; a second storage device for storing said dither matrix; a receiver for receiving information of each pixel in each said block of said first image information, except information not transferred from said first apparatus, in order of a value of a corresponding element in said dither matrix stored in said second storage device; and a controller for updating information of a corresponding pixel in said second image information stored in said first storage device with information of each pixel received.
23. The updating apparatus set forth in claim 22 , wherein said receiver receives information representing whether or not each pixel is transferred.
24. The updating apparatus set forth in claim 22 , wherein said receiver receives a command for moving a portion of said second image information to another portion in said second image information; and said controller moves said portion of said second image information to said another portion in said second image information according to said command.
25. The updating apparatus set forth in claim 22 , wherein a group is defined which includes one or a plurality of said blocks, and said receiver receives information representing which group transferred pixels belong to.
26. A transferring apparatus for transferring to a receiving apparatus image information comprising a plurality of pixels divided into a plurality of blocks, said transferring apparatus comprising: a storage device for storing said image information; a transmitter; a counter for counting the number of changed pixels for each said block; and a controller for determining for each said block whether the count exceeded a predetermined threshold, and for, if said count of a block exceeds said predetermined threshold, instructing said transmitter to transfer information of the pixels which belong to said block stored in said storage device to said receiving apparatus.
27. A transferring apparatus for transferring to a receiving apparatus image information comprising a plurality of pixels divided into a plurality of blocks, said transferring apparatus comprising: a storage device for storing said image information; a transmitter; a counter for count the number of writings to pixels for each said block; and a controller for determining for each said block whether the count exceeds a predetermined threshold, and for, if said count exceeded the predetermined threshold, instructing said transmitter to transfer to said receiving apparatus information of the pixels which belong to said block stored in said storage device.
28. The transferring apparatus set forth in claim 26 , wherein said controller further performs a process for incrementing said count if it is determined said count does not exceed the predetermined threshold.
29. The transferring apparatus set forth in claim 27 , wherein said controller further performs a process for incrementing said count if it is determined said count does not exceed the predetermined threshold.
30. A storage medium for storing a program for causing a computer to transfer to a second apparatus image information comprising a plurality of pixels divided into blocks, each said block having a size of a predetermined dither matrix, said program comprising the steps of: holding information representing whether or not content of each said pixel in said image information is changed; determining in order of a value of a corresponding element in said dither matrix, by referring to said information representing whether or not content of each said pixel is changed, whether or not each said pixel in each said block in said image information is to be transferred to said second apparatus; and transferring to said second apparatus in said order the pixels determined to be transferred.
31. A storage medium for storing a program for causing a computer to transfer to a second apparatus image information comprising a plurality of pixels divided into a plurality of blocks, said program comprising the steps of: counting the number of changes or writings to pixels in said blocks for each said block; determining for each said block whether or not the count of a block exceeded a predetermined threshold; and transferring to said second apparatus information of pixels belonging to said block if said count of said block exceeds said predetermined threshold.
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April 28, 1999
May 6, 2003
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